Page 69 of The Devil's Ransom

As he worked, I turned to Rodavan and said, “Where’s Branko? The leader?”

He was now completely compliant, and because of it, I knew he wasn’t going to lie to me. He said, “I have no idea. He left here this morning and went up to the safehouse. He called here on his new phone, said he was there, then chatted over the internet with Pushka. Said he was coming right back.”

That perked up my interest. “New phone? He used it to call here?”

“Yes.”

“Where’s the phone that answered?”

He pointed to Pushka and without a word, Pushka held it up while still typing. I said, “Plug that thing into the computer. Let Creed see it as well.”

He did so, and I returned Rodavan. “Why did those guys want to kill you in Zagreb? What was that about?”

Rodavan said, “I wasn’t there. That was Branko and Pushka. Hell, Pushka got shot. I have no idea about that. The guy came in ranting about some sort of treasure and then shot him. It had nothing to do with this.”

Pushka said, “Stop talking, man. You think this guy is going to help you? He’s here to hurt you.”

I heardtreasureand made a connection. I said, “So these guys were from Afghanistan?”

“Afghanistan? Like the country?”

I saw complete confusion and figured he had nothing left to give. I turned to Pushka, saying, “Where do we stand?”

He leaned back and said, “You’re good to go. Key sent. You’re clear.” I called Creed and he confirmed, elated, like we’d just solved the problem of world hunger.

Pushka looked at me and said, “So what’s that mean for us?”

I said, “What it means is I want the leader. It’s not your fault, but you guys fucked with the wrong people here. I want Branko. Where is he?”

He raised his hands and said, “I have no idea. He was supposed to return here today, but never showed. I could call him... see if he answers.”

I said, “That’s not necessary. I have his phone number now. I’ll find him myself.”

He said, “Who are you? Nobody can do what you say without significant resources. Are you from Andrei? Or Sphinx?”

Now intrigued, I said, “Who’s Andrei?”

He turned away and said, “Nobody. Nobody!”

I said, “He’s a somebody or you wouldn’t have mentioned him.”

Knuckles towered over Rodavan, giving him the full weight of his capacity for violence. Rodavan cowered and said, “He’s our bankroll. Some Russian guy. We’ve never met him, but Branko has. Man, all we do is computer shit. I didn’t sign up for this.”

I tapped him in the head with the barrel of my pistol and said, “Who’s Sphinx?”

Rodavan said, “I don’t know. He’s an American. He helped with the code.”

Pushka said, “Rodavan! No more!”

I turned to him and said, “I’m going to get the answers one way or the other. That’s a given. What’s unknown now is how much pain this will cause.”

Then someone knocked on the door.

Chapter40

Shakor walked down the promenade outside the tourist entrance of the old town of Split and punched Drago in the back, saying, “You’d better not be lying to me.”

People from all over the world spilling around them, Drago said, “He’s here. I’m sure of it.”

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